Stage 0: A life for a life for a new life?
“How did everything end up like this?” I whispered softly. “One minute everything was awesome and the next? Everyone was at each other's throat.”
I lifted my head to stare at Sunset's bedridden form. Sunset was always beautiful no matter what she did, when she was queen bitch of Canterlot High, beautiful. Turned into a she-demon and mind-control the whole school? Beautiful. Faced off against three mind-controlling sirens and won? Beautiful.
Even now, bedridden, she was beautiful. Her hair spread around her head forming a golden-red halo. Even though her face and body are covered in bandages from all the cuts and bruises across her body, she was still beautiful.
“God, I’m so sorry, Sunset,” I said, hoping my words would somehow heal her. “I would say it thousand, no, tens of thousands of times to see you awake and smiling again.”
But no matter how much I beg she still wouldn’t wake up. If it wasn’t for the slight rising and falling of her chest, anyone that saw Sunset would think she was dead.
“Begging won’t help, my dear,” a smooth-talking voice said behind me.
I ignored it.
“Come now, don’t ignore me! It won’t help you or your little girlfriend,” the voice whispered in my ear.
“What do you want?” I asked, nearly growling the words out.
“To see your answer of course,” said the voice.
“And if I say, no?”
I could practically feel the grin in his voice when he said, “My dear, we both know that won’t be your answer.”
“... How did this even happen?” I absently asked myself. Even now, I still can’t believe how all this got started. A few weeks before the winter holidays an account open on Mystables called Anon-a-miss. At first, it appeared to be one of those gossip blogs that pop up ever so few often, just to die out soon after.
But Anon-a-miss... was different.
At first, she started posting the usually kind stuff, “he was taking drugs” or “she was cheating on her boyfriend”, ya know the usual kind of gossip. But what made Anon different was the fact that she had proof to back up what she posted. As she started to post more and more, people began taking it as fact even when she couldn’t prove what she posted was true.
Soon the students of Canterlot High were at each other's throats, ready to tear each other apart at the drop of the hat. It was around this time that someone conveniently pointed out that Anon’s Mystable background was red and gold with her profile picture being a silhouette that looks awfully a lot like Sunset. It didn’t take long before everyone was pointing their fingers at Sunset, accusing her of being Anon-a-miss.
Of course, my friends and I defended Sunset from their unfair accusations, but... we were no better. When our secrets got out we easily turned on Sunset just like the rest.
After the girls and I told Sunset she wasn’t our friend anymore, Anon posted a secret of Fluttershy’s that caused a bit of a problem for us. See, no one knew this secret except for me and Fluttershy herself. This left me as the sole source of the secret and since Fluttershy knew I would never tell anyone this secret, this put doubt if Sunset was guilty or not.
The post caused a rift to form in our friendship. Pinkie thought Sunset was just being meanie-pants to Fluttershy while Applejack and Rarity thought she was just lashing out at Fluttershy for standing up to her. I was suspicious of the post since Sunset wasn’t around during our middle school years, plus, I doubt Sunset would just gather dirt on random people without a reason.
After telling Fluttershy to hold off on defending Sunset again for a bit, just in case we were wrong, I started looking into her innocence. But I wasn’t making much headway besides learning that all the secrets that were told were only told to one or two other people.
So after hitting a dead-end I decided to see my old friend Gilda to she what knew, stopping long enough to say hi to Scootaloo, I met up with G to trade info, seeing as Sunset defeat at the fall formal allowed Gilda to become the top dog again, but that when everything went wrong.
“How did it go wrong, Rainbow Dash?” the voice whispered all-around me.
Anon posted a video of Gilda and me... experimenting, and anyone with a half-brain can guess what happen next. Gilda rep was being threatened by a brunch of dickheads for being a “soft, weak lover”.
As for me, nothing anyone could say to me could piss me off more than doubting that Sunset wasn’t guilty. I was angry at how she was tearing our school apart, angry at... “at our friendship being fake,” I choke out loud.
Slumping down in the next chair to Sunset’s bed, I stared out at the window sighing, “I got angry, let Gilda convince me into helping her perform a jump on Sunset... It was only after the police came did we figure out we were set up.”
“Hmm... interesting. Please continue, miss Dash,” the voice said in front of me even though I couldn’t see it.
Sighing, I glared at where I thought the was coming and said, “Why should I keep talking about what I already kno” - *SNAP* - “fine. But it doesn’t get any better from here.”
“I figure as much,” the voice said absently like it was picking at its teeth. “Now continue.”
“Yeah, yeah, hold your horses,” I said, annoyed at the voice way of talking before I continued my recount of what happened.
Looking back now it was obvious we were being set up. I wasn’t being subtle about asking people who knew their secrets and it was quite convenient how Anon posted a video of me and Gilda soon after I started looking into who knew whose secrets. But being the idiot that I am, I didn’t see it until it was too late, and now Gilda is in jail, taking my share of the blame with her so I can have a chance to find the real Anon-a-miss.
“And did you find them?”
“Yeah, I di-wait, how did you know there was more than one per-”
*SNAP* “No distraction now, miss Dash, continue.”
“Okay.”
I found out who Anon-a-miss was by complete accident. I was heading over to Applejack’s to my clear head and caught AJ rushing out of the farm saying Rarity called her and said she needs her over her place ASAP. Being the good friend that I am I decided to tag along with her to see what disaster happen now.
When we got there, we found Rarity standing over Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo like a lion over its prey. We asked what happen and all Rarity did was point at a laptop sitting on a nearby table. At first, we didn’t understand what Rarity was mad about until we notice what was on the screen.
“And what was on the screen, Rainbow Dash?”
“It was Anon-a-miss Mystable account. And at first, we thought it was just a blog post that they got caught reading. But that quickly went the drain when we notice the accounts control.”
“I take it neither of you took it very well?”
“That’s an understatement,” I snorted. “Applejack was horrified at what Applebloom did. And I couldn’t look at Scootaloo without wanting to choke the life out of her.”
“I see,” the voice said with mock sympathy. “And since all of you know the truth now, what did all of you decide to do with it?”
I stared at Sunset for several minutes before saying, “They... Applejack and Rarity wanted to cover up Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, and Scootaloo's involvement in Anon-a-miss. Or at least for the time being they said.”
“And what did you want to do, Rainbow Dash?” the voice whispered in my ear as I felt its claws dig into my shoulders causing me to shiver.
“I wanted the truth to come out. No more secrets. No more lies. Just the plain old truth.”
“I take it the others didn’t take kindly to what you wanted, did they?” the voice said with a hint of understanding in its voice.
“No, they didn’t... They - I... We fought. And I think I lost two more of my best friends... I-I made choice.”
“Hmm, your sure you're ready? You still got time to reconsider?” asked the voice.
“No, I might end up changing my mind again if given the chance. Just... get it over with.”
“... Very well.”
*SNAP*
At first, nothing changed, I was still sitting in the chair, and Sunset was still in bed slowly dying. It was when I started to doubt my own sanity when it happened. My body suddenly felt drained, like something was slowly pouring out of me. When I started having trouble breathing I look up and saw something wondrous. Sunset’s injuries were healing at an alarming rate.
What was once a Sunset so injured that she lied at death-door ready to cross it at any time, now lied a Sunset who looks like she had never been in a fight in her entire life. Scars on her face that were there before the incident was gone. Leaving Sunset with an otherworldly beauty that surpassed what she had before.
“Beautiful.” I manage to choke out.
As I felt more of my life leave me, I couldn’t help but feel a sick and twisted sense of joy over the fact I was becoming one with Sunset in ways that no one else ever will.
As all the feeling in my body, besides the ever-present cold, left me. I quickly realized that this was my final moments and did the one thing I wanted to do at that moment.
I stared at Sunset. I watch as my life brought her back from the brink of death. I watch as my life made her
more beautiful than anyone else.
I still watch knowing she will never be mine.
I let out a shuddering sigh as my vision fails me leaving me blind to the world.
If this is the moment my life ends then I’m content, I thought myself as I waited for my life to come to its ultimate end.
...
...
...
“It seems you didn’t meet a terrible end after all.”
...
...
“Hmm, the drain must have taken a lot out of you than I first thought if you can’t even think.”
...
“But what to do with you though? I can’t, in good conscience, just leave you here as a helpless and mostly dead corpse. That just plain rude! Hmm, what to do, what to do?”
...
“Ah-ha! I got it! I just make one of those!”
...
“Now I know you will agree with me when I say you don’t want to die. So I’m just gonna say you’re welcome. And welcome to your new life, Rainbow Dash.”
...
“And before I forget you have to find your own way back.”
*SNAP*
ALERT!
You acquired the title “Child of the Chaos King” and unlock the Title Skill "Growing Chaos"
This title skill comes with the effect to %#ERROR$%
ALERT!
You acquired the title “Second Runner” and unlock the Title Skill "Second Run"
This title comes with a skill effect that lets you regain Skills, Stats, and Abilities you had
in your previous life at a quicker pace than other Skills. You also regain a portion of
the experience you had in your previous life.
ALERT!
You gain 20,000 EXP!
ALERT!
You have reached the MAX LV for
your Subspecies and are able to evolve.
ALERT!
You acquired the title “Abnormal Egg” and
unlock the Title Skill “Abnormal Growth”
“Abnormal Growth” skill effect allows its user to gain twice as much EXP
than what is consider to be normal.
Stage 1 Birthday Surprise
“Ugh, my aching... Everything,” I groaned as I try and fail to get up. “Huh, why can’t I -agh- move?”
It was then I notice a screen floating in front of my face. The second thing I notice was I wasn't in my bed but stuck in a small, dark, and too cramped for comfort box. So like any normal person you can imagine I did the most sensible thing I could do in my situation.
“This isn’t funny!” I yelled. “Let me out! Or I swear to God, I beat your mother-loving skulls in and tear them out your arses!”
Yup, the most sensible thing.
For several minutes I kept yelling, screaming and cussing to the high heavens for the person who put me in this box to come back and let me out, so I can beat them for putting in me the box in the first place.
Of course it didn’t work, it never does. But it did help me calm down a bit so I can think straight and do something productive. Like reading the annoyingly bright screen in front of me.
If you’re reading this Rainbow Dash, then it means you haven’t been eaten yet... Or maybe you’re already being eaten while this massage floats over your corpse. Or gone insane and can't even understand it. Who knows! But that won’t stop me from writing this massage though.
“... What the heck is this?” I asked dumbly.
Now you must be confused and I understand if your a bit afraid.(Not really, I can’t even remember the last time I been afraid of something... Besides six colorful rocks that is.) Anyone would be, seeing how close to death you were after giving your life to save your friend.
“That... That’s right! I made a deal with that voice to save Sunset and then I... died. But why does this say ‘close to death’? Wasn't I suppose to die to save Sunset?”
Now you must be asking, “Didn’t I give my life to save my dear friend?” and the answer would be yes! You did give most of your life away to your little girl friend, however, you still had enough life in you to keep your soul alive.
“What does that even mean?” I said absently, only to notice what was written in the next line. “Okay, this is getting freaky in a bad way.”
Now you must be wondering what I meant by “keep your soul alive?” Well don’t worry Daddy D has you covered.
You see Rainbow Dash, souls exist in two states. Living and Dead. A living soul is what all you mortals have when you’re born into this world. While a dead soul appears after someone has died, they’re basically ghost!
Anyway, the main difference between a living soul and a dead one is that a living soul can maintain their exist in the living world without help... mostly. While dead souls act like parasites, draining what energy they can to maintain their exist in the living world.
“... Okay? Nice to know I’m not a parasite. That still doesn’t explain why you put me in a box,” I said menacingly. “And it better be a good darn reason.”
Now your not in a box if that’s what your thinking. No I put you inside an egg.
“... WHAT!?”
specifically a dragon egg. It was the most sensible choice at the time, I assure you.
“HOW IS PUTTING MY STILL LIVING SOUL IN A GIANT, but albeit cool lizard, CONSIDERED SENSIBLE!?” I screech to the heavens.
I know! It is the most sensible choice! I’m glad you agree with me.
“I WILL DESTROY YOU!”
Now you don’t have much more time left, so I keep the rest of this brief. The dragon egg I shoved your soul in is located in another world. And no, its not the one your Princess friend comes from, so don’t count on her for help.
Now then, the inhabitants of this world make use of a form of energy that I call “EXP” to grow stronger. Now the inhabitant can gain this EXP by just living their lives and steadily build it up. This of course is the slow way of doing it and it could take you a year or longer to gain a single level if your unlucky.
Now, the second, and more faster way, of getting EXP is kill things. Kill monsters, people, etc... if it alive somehow than it got EXP in it for the taking.
Now Rainbow Dash you are part of the monster race called Dragons. So when you gain EXP and level up, you will eventually be able to evolve and become even stronger.
And if your lucky, you might gain the power to return to your home-world.
“!?”
Good luck Rainbow Dash you’ll need it.
With Love from your father, Discord
P.S. You already at your MAX LV for a "Dragon Egg" so you really should evolve before the worms start eating you like they did with your new siblings.
“Wait! You can’t just say all that and leave! Worms? EXP? Leveling up? I need more detail than this!” I yelled at screen hoping to keep this “Discord” from leaving, but I was too late and it closed on me, leaving me in the dark for several seconds until a new screen open up in front of me.
ALERT!
You have reached the MAX LV for
your rank and are able to evolve.
Proceed? Y/N
“Grr, Fine!” I growled out, annoyed at my current situation. “I play along with whatever your doing Discord. But I swear to God, if you’re just messing with me I will make you pay!”
I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep calming breath before saying, “Ok, I’m ready screen... Uh proceed?”
The screen suddenly went dark for a second before lighting back with two glowing text boxes.
You have two evolution paths available for you
to choose from. Which one will you choose?
“Little Dragon” or “Baby Dragon”
“Uh, screen, I need a bit more info than just names,” I said to the screen and was pleasantly surprised when it responded the way I wanted it to.
”Little Dragon”
Rank:D+
A member of the Miniature Dragon race, although
its called “little” it’s still bigger than a bear. They’re also
known for their powerful fire breath, most novice
and rookie Adventurers fear it.
“What the heck is a Miniature Dragon?” I asked at of reflex more than anything, and surprisingly, a third screen popped up and explained what a Miniature Dragon was.
Miniature Dragons are smaller versions of much larger known Dragons,
however, cause of their smaller size they’re much weaker than their larger counterparts and they also have far less
potential. They’re also known as Dwarf Dragons, much to the disdain of Dwarves everywhere.
“... Well that answers that,” I said after finishing reading the third screen causing it to close. “Little Dragon sounds nice but that ‘less potential’ bit bugs me. Does that mean it won’t as strong be as other dragons?”
“Well, lets just check what Baby Dragon has going for it. No sense in rushing.”
”Baby Dragon”
Rank:D-
A newly born member of the Dragon species. Its claws and fangs are small
making it rather weak. However, it makes up for it by having high potential.
It also known to be tasty.
“... Wha?” I said, dumbfounded over the last bit I read. “Tasty? What does that even mean?!”
”Baby Dragons” are known for their soft and delicious
meat. They are often hunted by other monsters and adventurers for it.
“I... I can’t even...” I was dumbfounded that one of my potential evolutions was a animal that people and monsters alike wanted to eat.
“Okay, I don’t feel too comfortable with the idea of people hunting me down just to eat me and being too weak to fight back. So choosing Little Dragon should be the obvious choice... If I hadn’t played so many RPGs that is,” I said as a familiar cocky grin appeared on my face... I think?
“Little Dragon may give me a strong start. But it having so little potential means that sooner or later I will hit a wall that I can’t get pass.” I said to the screen. “But as a Baby Dragon I have struggle a lot more against things a Little Dragon won’t have any trouble with. But the plus side I be able grow strong enough to overcome any challenge I meet given enough time.”
“Each have their ups and downs, so I guess I follow my gamer logic and pick...”
“Baby Dragon!” After telling the screen my choice evolution, the screen with “Little Dragon” on it disappeared while the screen with “Baby Dragon” remained and started to glow. Brighter and brighter the screen became until white cracks started to grow out of it and spread across the black void I woke up in.
Heh, this gonna be a cake walk. I just got to beat up some monster baddies, gather up some that EXP, evolve and then I be back home before dinner. I thought myself.
As the black void begins to fall away from me a new screen popped open in front of me and said.
You have evolved into a “Baby Dragon”
ALERT!
You have acquired new skills!
“Baby breath” Lv 1
“Play-Bite” Lv 1
“Dragon Scales” Lv 1
ALERT!
Conditions for a hidden effect from the title “Child of the Chaos King” has been met.
You gain one randomly selected skill!
You have acquired the skill “Appraisal” Lv 1
ALERT!
The Skill “Status Screen” Lv 1 has risen to Lv 2 and is now able to show more details about your current Stats and Skills as necessary.
“Huh, well neat. This world is more game-like than I thought it was. Heh, this gonna be easy with my gamer know-how.”
As the black fall away from me, I took my first breath with my new body.
“Gah!?”
And immediately started gagging.
“Sweet baby Jesus in a dung pile! What the heck is that... smell...”
“... Oh god,” I whispered in fear and disgust as I watch several large black worms, break open an egg in front of me and drag out a half formed... something, and started eating it.
All around me eggs were being broken open left and right and their contents devoured by the giant black worms.
I took a step back when some blood almost landed on me and ended up stepping on a eggshell and alerted the worms to my presence. And almost as if they were one being they all turned to look at me.
*Kis-click!* They hissed at me before nearby group of worms made a beeline for me.
“He-hey come on now,” I said to the advancing worms. ”Can’t you just let me go? It’s my birthday after all!”
*Kis-click!* The worms hissed at me as they pick up their speed.
“Yeah, I figure that would be your answer.” I muttered before a screen opened up in front of me.
Alert!
Conditions for a hidden effect from the title “Child of the Chaos King” has been met.
A Quest has been generated!
Quest: Bloody Birthday
Blood lingers in the air as the Dark Worms fed on the unprotected Dragon's Nest. Eggs broken. Lives taken. Your siblings are dead and gone.
You must survive!
Quest Goal: Find a way to survive the Dark Worms attack!
Quest Reward: 100 EXP
Bonus Quest: A Dragon's Pride
Quest Goal: Avenge your dead siblings! Dark Worms Slayed 0/20
Quest Reward: Chaos Crystal
I look at the screen then I look at the hoard of "Dark Worms" heading for me then back to the screen and said.
"Well... I always say up for any challenge," I chuckled uneasily. "And I guess this is no different!"
Pushing the screen out of my way I awkwardly took a karate pose with my han-I mean "Claws" forward. Ready to hand these bugs their butts on a platter!
As the Dark Worms got closer to me I couldn't help but think, God, they're even uglier up close!
The Dark Worms look like giant caterpillars that had a mouth for a face with no visible eyes on it. It has a deadly set of outward facing teeth that could piece and pull prey into their mouth faces.
In laymen terms they're ugly as hell and can put pitbull's bite to same.
I swing my right claw to the side as one of three worms coming at me jump at my face. I felt my claw dig into the worm flesh as I swated it aside like it was noting. It wiggled on the ground, howling in pain for a moment before going still.
You acquired 60 EXP!
You acquired 60 EXP!
Your level has risen from level 1 to level 3!
Dark Worm Slayed 1/20
Huh? It can't be that easy, can it?
The next worm, instead of going for the my head, went low trying to knock me off balance. I easily stepped on it and repeatedly impaled it with my claws.
You acquired 52 EXP!
You acquired 52 EXP!
Your level has risen from level 3 to level 5!
Dark Worm Slayed 2/20
The last worm tired to bite my tail when I was dealing with worm#2 but I easily swated it aside and ran it through like the other two worms.
You acquired 44 EXP!
You acquired 44 EXP!
Your level has risen from level 5 to level 7!
Dark worms Slayed 3/20
That's it? I thought to myself. If this is all I have to worry about than there is nothing for me to fear about these-
It was then I notice all the worms were charging at me with bloodlust coming from their face holes.
"Oh, this might be harder than I thought," I said nervously before a grin formed on my face. "But I'm always up for a challenge. Come at me you wannabe mobs!" I said to the hoard of worms heading for me.
Author's Note
Sorry about the delay I been trying to kill Arch-tempered Xeno'jiiva and I finally did it! Now I only did a passing glance for errors so if any of you find any tell me ok?
A monster rank determines their MAX LV. A Rank:F monster MAX LV would be five while a Rank:D monster would be thirty. However, it should be noted that a monster species and personal potential may influence its MAX LV.
Also here's a pic of what a Dark Worm looks like.
